Darpan Patel

Darpan Patel, PhD, is a Professor and Vice Dean for Research and Scholarship at the School of Nursing, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. He holds the Lena Finke Distinguished Chair of Nursing and specializes in exercise oncology, therapeutic yoga interventions, and molecular physiology. His work bridges clinical research with community-engaged approaches, focusing on cancer survivorship and cardiometabolic health.

• PhD in Applied Physiology and Kinesiology (University of Florida)
• MA in Exercise Physiology (California State University, Fresno)
• BS in Exercise Physiology (California State University, Fullerton)

Research interests include:

• Exercise-induced molecular adaptations in cancer survivors
• Therapeutic yoga for cognitive and metabolic improvements
• Multi-omic mapping of exercise responses (via MoTrPAC)
• Health disparities in rural vs. urban cancer populations
• Behavioral lifestyle interventions for chronic diseases

Recent publications highlight his work on:

• Therapeutic yoga's impact on cytokines and cognition in breast cancer survivors
• Multi-omic responses to endurance/resistance exercise across tissues
• Exercise's role in mitigating prostate cancer-related fatigue
• Sexual dimorphism in molecular exercise adaptations
• Virtual delivery of integrative interventions

Scientific awards include:

• Inducted into the Academy of Research Mentors (2022)
• Dr. Patty L. Hawken Faculty Award (2021)
• The Migliorino-Piccione Award (2013)
• UTHSCSA Continuing Education Award (2012)

Grants include NIH funding for MoTrPAC ancillary studies and behavioral interventions for Latinas, along with support from the Bill and Ella Owen’s Medical Research Foundation.